Over Seas

Did Britain help India plan the raid on the Darbar Sahib? asks Tom Watson MP

January 14, 2014 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

London, United Kingdom (January 14, 2013): A recent post by British Tom Watson MP at: www.tom-watson.co.uk, regarding recent disclosure of involvement of British govt. and Army in planning of Indian army’s attack on Darbar Sahib in June 1984, reads as follows:

The ‘Stop Deportations’ web site carries “Top Secret and Personal” documents purporting to come from the National Archives and recently made public under the 30 year rule for Cabinet papers. The claim that the British Government colluded with the government of India over Operation Blue Star, the raid on the [Darbar Sahib] in Amritsar, will cause huge upset and offence to many British Sikhs.

I’ve only seen the documents this morning and am told there are others that have been withheld. This is not good enough. It is not unreasonable to ask for an explanation about the extent of British military collusion with the government of Indira Gandhi.

In the year when Sikhs commemorate their role in the centenary of World War I and mourn for loved ones lost in the events of 1984, this latest revelation will be deeply felt.

I am writing to the Foreign Secretary about this matter and will raise it in the House of Commons. I expect a full explanation.

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BBC Audio clip:

British involvement in [Darbar Sahib] raid?
DURATION: 02:48
A Labour MP has told BBC Asian Network he has seen documents that show Margaret Thatcher’s government assisted the Indian government in the controversial raid on the [Darbar Sahib] in Amritsar in 1984.
Tom Watson, MP for West Bromwich East says the documents have only just been released after 30 years and he’s shocked by what he’s seen.
He spoke to Chetan Pathak.

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*[ ] Term “Golden Temple” is replaced with “Darbar Sahib”.

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Related Topics: 1984 Genocide Coalition, 1984 Sikh Genocide, Indian State, June 1984 attack on Sikhs, Operation Blue Star, Sikhs in United Kingdom, Tom Watson, UK and June 1984 attack on Sikhs

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